2003 Chevy Avalanche Steering

[smokin5s]

I'm hoping someone here can help me out.. my Avalanche, the steering feels loose. We're talking there is about 1/8 steering wheel turn before it grips. I've replaced upper and lower intermediate shafts, outer tie rods, steering box and pitman arm, idler arm and power steering pump. I can get under the truck and turn the front wheels from side to side by holding the tire but not up and down. I look at the inner tie rods and they are holding together and it looks like the pitman arm moves when I move the actual truck wheel which makes me think the tie rods are good. (although they could use a little bit of grease). The pitman arm seems to have a TINY amount of play in it but it's not very bad. All of my steering parts are under 1k miles at this point. I know the steering box can be adjusted a little but not totally sure if I should be messing with that and if so how much do I turn at a time when adjusting. Any ideas on what could be making this steering such a huge pain in the royal ass?

[spankis]

No idea on avalanches or this vintage of gm truck, but rag joint maybe? It's the universal joint between the column and the box, usually a foot or two out from the firewall. Replaced my grandpa's on an 88 chevy he used to have and it was WAY bad when I did.

[Geeesammy]

I'm hoping someone here can help me out.. my Avalanche, the steering feels loose. We're talking there is about 1/8 steering wheel turn before it grips. I've replaced upper and lower intermediate shafts, outer tie rods, steering box and pitman arm, idler arm and power steering pump. I can get under the truck and turn the front wheels from side to side by holding the tire but not up and down. I look at the inner tie rods and they are holding together and it looks like the pitman arm moves when I move the actual truck wheel which makes me think the tie rods are good. (although they could use a little bit of grease). The pitman arm seems to have a TINY amount of play in it but it's not very bad. All of my steering parts are under 1k miles at this point. I know the steering box can be adjusted a little but not totally sure if I should be messing with that and if so how much do I turn at a time when adjusting. Any ideas on what could be making this steering such a huge pain in the royal ass?

 

Sounds just like an intermediate shaft issue. I would have a helper move the wheel, feel ujoints and other connections on the shaft or visually observe them

 

You can check the steering box for play, but adjusting them is a little tricky. Also you can put a prybar on the sway bar and push up on the box where the pitman arm is and check for play there on both the arm and box shaft.

[smokin5s]

No idea on avalanches or this vintage of gm truck, but rag joint maybe? It's the universal joint between the column and the box, usually a foot or two out from the firewall. Replaced my grandpa's on an 88 chevy he used to have and it was WAY bad when I did.

I'm pretty sure you're talking about the intermediate shafts and I replaced the upper and lower

[smokin5s]

Sounds just like an intermediate shaft issue. I would have a helper move the wheel, feel ujoints and other connections on the shaft or visually observe them

 

You can check the steering box for play, but adjusting them is a little tricky. Also you can put a prybar on the sway bar and push up on the box where the pitman arm is and check for play there on both the arm and box shaft.

I replaced both of the intermediate shafts and checked for play.. there is no play. I will try the pry bar. I figured the steering box can be finaky if I want to adjust it, It's really the only thing I can think of that's left at this point.